Now, back when AJ was 2 we had an Early Intervention coordinator do an evaluation on him as well. Most of these assessments were (at the time) developmental. However, they did pick up on some key things: he had some major sensory issues, he had serious speech delays, he had some medical issues like food intolerances and allergies that needed to be addressed, his developmental delays were across the board, scattered and both fine and gross motor. But they did not do their job.

As Early Intervention goes the one in the county we lived in was horrible. What they did was stall us until he turned 3 and could be evaluated for Early Childhood, and thus pushed out of their system. What they should have done is provide us with things that my friends are getting here in Illinois but I think they believed we were a family that could financially provide services, had decent insurance to cover it, and that our son would eventually develop, as he was from an institution. After all, he did not actually HAVE autism, did he?

They failed us and that is paying its price right now. We don’t have things like Boardmaker, swings and sensory tools, after school OT and speech, sensory diets or individualized lessons for him to be performed at home, etc. At one point we even asked them to provide respite for us and they stated that they did not do that. How could an Early Intervention Program NOT provide respite?

According to the State of New York, “Early intervention services are provided to help your child grow and develop, and to help you care for your child.
These services include evaluation services (including hearing and vision screening); home visits; speech, physical and other therapies; child development groups; family counseling; and, sometimes, even help with transportation. These services are provided at no cost to you.”

But, according to Michigan, where we lived ” Monies are allocated based on the number of infants and toddlers eligible for Early On services within each ISD and a base grant (based on size and numbers) for administration and coordination functions.
Early On is a family-focused process, with emphasis on family strengths and abilities, which requires the development of an individualized family service plan specific to each enrolled family, based on the findings of a multidisciplinary evaluation of the child and family.”

Because we were based in a low income county but were a higher income family we were told that we were doing more for our son than they could do for him. They told us to use our insurance to seek out OT and speech services and pay out of pocket. They told us that there was no respite for us. Why, because we could hire a babysitter?

I just can’t wait for the day that he can read…because apparently Michigan Early Intervention didn’t want him to.

Post from: Blisstree

How Early Intervention Failed us

Unfortunately, that has not been our case.

He has, for the best part, worked himself out of his Post Traumatic Stress and his Institutional Autism but he still struggles every day with SPD, auditory, visual, and communication disorders, many of these things that could have been addressed when he was two.

We tried to get AJ services, and we did get him private OT and speech for about a year but our funding ran out and our insurance refused to pay anymore. But, what is Early Intervention supposed to do for your child and your family?

Early Intervention is supposed to apply to children 0-3 who are at risk of having a handicap (or have one) or who have a developmental delay. The purpose is to aid families in lessening the effects of the disabilities and handicaps, as they can and often times can be devastating.

According to Kidsource, “Early intervention may focus on the child alone or on the child and the family together. Early intervention programs may be center-based, home-based, hospital-based, or a combination. Services range from identification–that is, hospital or school screening and referral services–to diagnostic and direct intervention programs. Early intervention may begin at any time between birth and school age; however, there are many reasons for it to begin as early as possible”.

Additionally, under IDEA, early intervention services are to be available to all infants and toddlers with disabilities 0-2 no matter their financial status, despite what Michigan told us. But, unfortunately, services can’t be the same in all places because funding is alloted per county and counties are all different. Because we lived in a depressed county we suffered. Now that we live in a much better county we get much better services…but AJ is way past the 0-3 age group and now Early Childhood picks up.

The term “infants and toddlers with disabilities” in the law refers to children (ages birth through 2 years) who need early intervention services in any of the following areas:

* Physical,
* Cognitive,
* Communication,
* Social or emotional, and/or
* Adaptive development.

Post from: Blisstree

What does early intervention do?

But, are those unsafe toys off the shelves? According to Kate Barrett with ABC News, it’s possible that those toys are still out there. Although “huge changes have altered toy safety laws” it does not mean every toy is off the shelf.

A new bill signed in August will take effect in February. So, to avoid products this holiday parents do need to stay vigilant.

“While larger retailers in particular have increased their testing of toys and put pressure on manufacturers for early compliance, there still could be trouble in toyland this year,” the survey said. “Our researchers continue to examine both discount stores and larger stores for noncompliance. We readily found toxic toys on store shelves.”

Safety Tips for Safe Toys from U.S. PIRG

• Buy children safety accessories.
• Stay informed on recalls at www.recalls.gov
• Avoid choking hazards by reading the age limits on toys.
• Read and heed warning labels.
• Never give young children small balls or balloons.
• Do not buy magnetic toys for kids younger than 6 and avoid toys with small parts for children younger than 3.
• Do not buy heavy metal jewelry (Lead)
• Do not buy toys made with PVC plastic.
• Opt for toys made of unpainted wood or cloth toys (without small parts).

Post from: Blisstree

Dangerous Toys Still on the Shelves?

The amount of homework has increased over the years, but what is interesting is that children aren’t spending any more time doing it. So, they have to accomplish more in a shorter time.

How can you help your children cope with homework? Kids Health Notes readers – real parents themselves- speak out.

Here are 20 strategies for helping children with homework:

1. Let the children unwind first, and de-stress from school. Give a snack, ask how the day or school went. Bring them to the table but don’t have them play.
2. Don’t wait to start doing homework too late or they will get too tired or distracted and instead just want to play.
3. Most parents agree that doing homework before dinner is best. This leaves for a little family time after dinner.
4. Get rid of all distractions – no TV, computer, video games etc.
5. Find a quiet spot to do homework. As one parent said make it “a sacred” spot that is clean and with sufficient light and ventilation.
6. Have a “homework box” or supplies handy so they have everything within reach.
7. Teach them to figure out how to get the answers on their own.
8. Don’t try to get it all done, as it can be overwhelming after a long school day. Check their work after they’re done.
9. NEVER do their homework for them, even (and especially when) they forgot it.
10. When the kids are having a hard time understanding a concept, let them take a break and get back to it later.
11. If possible, work one on one with each child and send the other one to do something else while we are working, That way it is quiet and they have your attention.
12. If other children are done, or they have no homework, get them to do workbooks or worksheets to that everyone is at the table doing homework and no one is watching TV or playing.
13. Make it a family affair. If there are older siblings, have them help the younger ones. Involve both parents if around.
14. If you’re not helping them, it helps to stay with them: “just being near, folding laundry, clipping coupons, whatever, because I find that if I leave they start to wander”.
15. Praise their attempts AND their successes.
16. Hand out rewards for excellent work. Rewards can be creative and diverse, like extra play hour on the weekend, or time with Mom/Dad, a favorite treat.
17. For younger children: Try to find a way to make it fun. For example, play a game with spelling words.
18. Homeschooling? Try to do it all throughout the day but take short breaks in between subjects so it’s not so overwhelming.
19. Let the child read out loud.
20. Use the internet for resources, but always under parent’s supervision.

image: sxc

Post from: Blisstree

20 strategies for helping with homework – tips from real parents

80 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HEALTHY

HELP KIDS STAY ACTIVE:

1. Bike to the library together.
2. Walk or bike to your children’s sports events to cheer for them.
3. Have your children come to your sports events and cheer for you.
4. Celebrate special occasions—birthdays, anniversaries—with something active, such as a hike, a volleyball game, a Frisbee™ match.
5. Train together for a charity walk or run.
6. Walk the dog with your children.
7. Exercise while you watch TV.
8. Park farther away from your destination.
9. Plan social activities involving exercise.
10. Plan a party with physically active games and activities for your family and your children’s friends.
11. Develop new friendships with physically active families and children. Join a group, such as the YMCA or a hiking club.
12. Schedule physical activity for times in the day or week when you feel energetic.
13. Make physical activity a regular part of your family’s daily or weekly schedule and write it on a family activity calendar.
14. Enroll your children in community sports teams or lessons, or swimming, gymnastics, or tennis.
15. Develop a set of regular activities for you and your family that are always available regardless of weather, such as indoor cycling, aerobic dance, indoor swimming, stretching and strengthening movements, stair climbing, rope skipping, mall walking, dancing, and gymnasium games.
16. Look at outdoor activities that depend on weather conditions, such as cross-country skiing, outdoor swimming, and outdoor tennis as “bonuses”—extra activities possible when weather and circumstances permit.
17. Take a family walk after dinner.
18. Replace a Sunday drive with a Sunday walk.
19. Do yard work. Get your children to help rake, weed, plant, etc.
20. Work around the house. Ask your children for help doing active chores
21. Use an exercise video with your kids if the weather is bad.
22. Play with your kids 30 minutes a day.
23. Dance to music. Play your favorite dance music for your children and have them play their favorites for you.
24. Make a Saturday morning walk a family habit.
25. Stretch, do yoga, lift hand weights while watching TV.
26. Go out and enjoy the sun, but be sun-protected.
27. Challenge the family to see who can do the most push-ups, jumping jacks, or leg lifts during commercial breaks, or switch to an exercise tape during commercials.
28. Provide other alternatives for them to spend their time, such as playing outside, learning a hobby or sport, or spending time with family and friends.

(Keep reading, there are 52 more ways…)

HELP KIDS MAKE DEVELOP EATING HABITS:

1. Make eating together a priority and schedule family meals at least two to three times a week. Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
2. Eat GO foods almost anytime: lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
3. Eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
4. Substitute the low-fat and fat-free versions of foods as alternatives to the full fat items.
5. Have SLOW foods sometimes or less often. SLOW foods include: vegetables with added fat, white refined flour bread, low-fat mayonnaise, and 2% low fat milk.
6. Have WHOA foods only once in a while or on special occasions. And, when you do have them, have small portions. Examples of WHOA foods are: whole milk, cheese, fried potatoes, croissants, muffins, butter, and creamy salad dressings.
7. Stays within your calorie needs.
8. Grill, steam, or bake instead of frying.
9. Flavor foods with herbs, spices, and other low-fat seasonings.
10. Keep to a regular eating schedule.
11. Eat before you get too hungry.
12. Don’t skip breakfast.
13. Get into the habit of eating breakfast, even on weekends and holidays.
14. Stock your kitchen with easy-to-prepare, healthy breakfast options.
15. Stop eating when you are full.
16. Snack on fruits and vegetables.
17. Top your favorite cereal with apples or bananas.
18. Include several servings of whole-grain foods daily.
19. Don’t take seconds.
20. Eat sweet foods in small amounts.
21. Try a new fruit or vegetable (ever had jicama, plantain, bok choy, star fruit, or papaya?)
22. Eat half your dessert, or choose fruit as dessert.
23. Don’t encourage late-night eating, or snacking.
24. Substitute the following :
    • olive oil for dipping instead of butter or margarine
    • fat-free or low-fat milk rather than whole milk or cream in coffee or in other drinks
    • food without butter, gravy, or sauces
    • salad dressing “on the side” and request light or fat-free dressing
    • steamed vegetables or a fruit cup as a substitute for french fries
    • “hold the cheese” or “cheese on the side” when ordering sandwiches or salads so you can decide how much cheese you want to eat.
    • unsweetened beverages, such as water, unsweetened iced-tea, or sugar-free or diet iced-tea and lemonade.
25. Drink water before a meal.
26. Drink diet soda instead of regular soda.
27. Drink water or low-fat milk over soda and other sugary drinks.
28. Instead of giving your child or yourself an entire bottle of fruit juice or soda, pour a small amount (1/2 cup) into a cup. Better yet, choose water or small amounts of 100% fruit juice over soda.
29. Use tall, narrow glasses instead of short, wide glasses. You will drink less.
30. If main dishes are too big, choose an appetizer or a side dish instead.
31. Order foods that are steamed, broiled, baked, roasted, poached, or lightly sautéed or stir-fried. Select an appetizer that is low in fat and includes a fruit or vegetable instead of an entrée at a restaurant.
32. Put a smaller portion on a smaller plate; it won’t look so skimpy.
33. Share a portion with a family member or friend.
34. Avoid food portions larger than your fist.
35. Order a medium pizza instead of a large. Everyone gets the same number of slices as before; they’re just smaller.
36. Before you eat your meal ask the wait staff to put half of the meal in a take home bag for leftovers to eat the next day.
37. Skip buffets.
38. Don’t bring hungry kids with you to grocery shopping.
39. Choose a checkout line without a candy display.

HELP KIDS MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES:

1. Help your children with time-management skills.
2. Consider limiting the number of activities they do, such as setting the number of hours or types of after-school work.
3. Make the bedroom dark at night and bright in the morning. It will encourage better sleep.
4. Make sure your child gets enough solid sleep each night. 7-8 hours is ideal for children to teens.
5. Set a house rule that your children may spend no more than two hours a day of screen time. More importantly, enforce the rule once it’s made.
6. Do not put a TV or computer in your child’s bedroom.  It encourages junk sleep.
7. Turn off the TV during family meal time. Better yet, remove the TV from the eating area if you have one there.
8. You need to be a good role model and also limit your screen time to no more than two hours per day. If your kids see you following your own rules, then they will be more likely to follow.
9. Don’t use TV to reward or punish a child. Practices like this make TV seem even more important to children.
10. Refrain from watching violent TV, especially for boys under 9.
11. Be a savvy media consumer. Don’t expect your child to ignore the influences of television advertising of snack foods, candy, soda, and fast food. Help your child develop healthy eating habits and become media savvy by teaching them to recognize a sales pitch.
12. Build a positive self-image in your child.
13. Spend time – in quality and quantity – with each child.

Post from: Blisstree

80 ways to keep your child healthy

Most of my friends’ kids right now are up to their eyeballs with homework, projects, crafts and papers that need to be turned in for school. It’s getting to be a very busy year for parents and their young students. If your kid is feeling a little too “ho-hum” or “aaack!” with school, I have just the thing to get her some breather.

Sakura has generously sponsored to give-away 10 sets of Sticklers Kits, each with die-cut stickers and Sakura Glaze or Souffle Pens. Cool isn’t it? She (or he) can decorate her stuff with the pens and stickers and make them stand out, more personalized, more jazzed. I played with the Sticklers myself and now my cell phone, key chain, scrapbook, binder and laptop have Sticklers all over them. Uber-FUN!!! It really is like eye candy for young artists! And it’s just the little thing you need to get some smile back.

So, who’s up for it? Here’s how to join:

Answer this in the comment: How do you help your child cope with schoolwork?

• One entry per person per day.
• It’s open to residents of the US only
• Contest ends 11:59 midnight EST on October 12, 2008 (Sunday). Ten winners will be randomly chosen and announced via blog and email the week after.
• If a winner does not reply within 3 days, he/she forfeits her winnings and an alternate entry will be chosen.
• REMINDER #1 : In previous contests, I have had several winners forfeited for failure to reply to my emails.  Please make sure your settings don’t put my email into the junk folder, then you’ll have no idea you actually won. Better yet, please check this blog out for the winners’ list after the contest ends. Best bet, come back often and stay a reader!
• REMINDER #2: Only entries with legit answers will be included in the draw. There are good reasons I ask these questions in Kids Health Notes. Actually, only a few forget to answer the questions, but I really want to include all commenters into the contest, so just take note of that when you join. And as always, I appreciate the conversation. Have fun here!

UPDATE: This contest is now closed.

Post from: Blisstree

Kids Health Notes give-away: Sakura Sticklers

I would like to ask readers of Kids Health Notes about your family’s after-school activities. What does your child do after school? Please take the poll below. If you have several children, please answer with your oldest child in mind. Thanks!

Post from: Blisstree

Poll: How active are your children after school

Well, here they are. The national universities in the United States have been ranked, and Harvard gets top honors. The best schools offer all levels of degrees and produce groundbreaking research. Plus, you might be surprised just how many students get some kind of funding or grant.

The top ten colleges and universities in the US:

Incidentally, the top six universities also earn the “best value“, where close to 50% of students receive grants based on needs. On average, the tuition fee is reduced by up to 68% at Harvard.

source: US News and World Report

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Top colleges and universities in the US

Season Three kicks off with supermodel Kathy Ireland and Georgia State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox going for the gold star in the special two-hour season premiere Friday, Sept. 5 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

Other notables attending class this season include TV personality Star Jones (“The View”), actress Jennie Garth (“Beverly Hills, 90210”), KISS front man Gene Simmons, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, zookeeper Jack Hanna and actor Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”). Also going for extra credit and hoping to reach the top prize of $1 million are astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson, “Jeopardy!” record-holder Ken Jennings and Nobel Prize Laureate George Fitzgerald Smoot III. 

So, who among them will turn out smarter than a 5th grader?

This season’s new class of 5^th graders includes:

· Bryce, 10, from Rockwall , TX , loves math and wants to be a lawyer or accountant when he grows-up.

· Francesca, 10, from San Diego , CA , says science is her favorite subject and aspires to be a veterinarian or a missionary.

· Jenna, 10, from Baltimore , MD , likes English and science and dreams of becoming a marine biologist.

· Jonathan, 9, from Los Angeles , CA , considers lunch to be his favorite subject and wants to be a scientist or an inventor one day.

· Olivia, 10, from Los Angeles , CA , loves history, art and wants to design video games when she gets older.  

source and image: FOX/© 2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. Mike Yarish/FOX

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VOTE: Who’s smarter than a 5th grader?

Can you believe school is about to start in a few weeks? I bet that question would be one of the hot topics that teachers, old friends and random students are going to ask each other… If you’re still thinking of a cool answer to that, think no more! Here are –

FIVE fun ideas to make the end of summer memorable.

1. Head for the wild outdoors. One of the easiest ways to get away for the weekend is family camping. Of course you need the tents, gear and food packed, but it’s really quite faster and easier to plan than you think. Family Camping Gear is a great resource to start, with tips on cooking, campfire, safety and etiquette.

IDEA: Yogi Bear Jellystone Park is one of our favorite places to go. It easily accommodates families, has hot showers, pools, golf and mini-theme parks (depending on location).

2. Splash on the fun! Waterparks have 100% enjoyment factor for kids of all ages. There are plenty to choose from coast to coast, and you can be there one day, one weekend or the last week of school break. A big bonus to waterparks – the nice tan that teens can show off once they come back to school.

IDEAS: You don’t have to go far for a waterpark. Make one in the backyard! Retailers are about to put up summer gear and fun items for sale, so buy a small pool, sprinklers, slides and let the kids have it one last time! Jump in too, in your swimsuits, day suits or pajamas. The point is to go carefree.

3. Have a TV Marathon. There is something to be said about television.

But if you have a favorite TV show that everyone liked last fall, this would be the time to get those DVDs and watch the whole season all over again, before the new season starts. It might actually backfire (in a good way): the kids might have a TV overload that they’d be sick of it for the rest of the school year. (And I hear a “yeah, right!”)

IDEAS: Talk about the show, its lessons and funnies. Let the kids recreate an episode, complete with costume, and present to family and friends. Make an alternate ending, or play trivia.

4. Be a hometown tourist. Some of us have been living in a city or town for so long yet never thought to explore the place. As summer is ending, so business is dwindling in hot summer spots in your town. Maybe now’s the time to bring the kids along.

IDEAS: Discover just one tourist spot or street each night. Walk the streets (the weather is cooler now), enjoy the restaurants, and just hang at the outdoor cafes, like a real tourist would. And don’t forget the camera! Let your children pick the places to go, let them act as guides, have them eat/taste/drink something different.

5. Capture the memories. If the family has actually used up all your vacation days at work, and you can’t go anywhere anymore, then it’s time to stop, and reminisce.

IDEAS: Print the photos, buy the albums, scrapbook the vacation. Transfer the videos into DVDs and watch them again. Include your children in the process and listen while they talk about their memories. And while your at it, record this event as well. These are precious records of how you family spends time together.

So whether you head out, or stay in, the important thing is spending time together as a family. Summers are unique because the individual schedules are not as tight yet, and there is time to waste. But waste not, because next summer is a year away.

images: flickrcc (camp; waterpark; television; tourist; memories)

Post from: Blisstree

Five fun ideas for an unforgettable end to summer